Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-30
FARM TOPICS.
rLINr corn AT rHE NoRTM.

FLINT CORN AT THE NORTH
When Minnesota farmers first began
growing corn they ia led because they
Ted the large Dent varieties common
At the West which ripen late. Now
.hey grow Flint coru from Northern
grown seed, or some of the early Dent
varieties. which Northern growers
nave originated, and which ripen in
ninety days from planting
FROST AND RIPENED GRAPES.
The light frosts that will destroy un-
.ipe grapes have scarcely any effect on
hose we'll r,pcned. Their rich juice
protect them from injury long after the
oliage has fallen. As rule, the wood
If vines which do not ripen their fruit
also immature and liable TO be killed
back during Winter This is especially
rue where the vine overbears and fruit
widowed.
WILD HAY IN THE WEST.
The great drought drought the corn
growing States of the West has obliged
mmers to depend more upon wild
nay. 1t has gone up in price to com
oarativey higher values than man y
Eastern farmers receive for clover and
he more valuable grasses. 1t is evil
lent from present Western prices for
lay that cheap cattle feeding will not
,e poss ble there for year 10 come ut
east
QUALITY OF PUMPKINS.
Mere SIZE is poor criterion for test
~ the value of pumkins. Some of
he largest specimens are soft, with
hin meat and full OF seeds. The best
nave shells as hard as a Hubbard
,quash. and solid flesh extending al
most to the centre. The best are
Is much superior for feeding to stock
Is they are COR cooking, and therefore
,nlY the best varieties should be plant
al
CITSERNs FOR WATERING STOCK.
The barn roof required TO shelter
stock IN w inter- Will IN most cases sup
DIV Il with water il the ra ms aud snow:
re saved in cisterns. In many places
! isterns can be filled by draining into
hem water from adjoining land wher
: thoroughly saturated. But the cisterr
- made will need TO be covered pretty
deeply in any of the Northern States tC
prevent it from freezing and bursting
I u Winter
; Loss FROM CHIsCH BUGS
Prof. Forbes estimates the loss from
,hinch bugs in Illinois alone this seas
On at $50. 600 900. The drouth mad,
4 hem more than usually destructive
t and there are serious fears for mex
GEAR. One OF the results of this insec
visitation is TO stop the growing o
W inter- wheat This grain feeds tn
first brood, and thus increases it s.
t that the second destroys tho corn crop
n which in Illinois is more importan
1 ,han wheat.
3 SORGHUM DEGRSERATISG.
Some Western farmers complain tina
sorghum is not what ii once was. tina
t t has lost it's sweetness and looks d.
. terent. In short il has run out
Il This undoubtly due to carelessnes
6 N select nc seed. Neither sorghum
broom corn nor the common kinds G
+ corn should be grown near, each other
The pollen Of one will. to some extern
e affect those with which it mixed. An
: as the adm xture in sorghum seed doe
u not show until the plant natures it
worth while to take extra pains TO &c
/ pure.
, THE COLOR OF BUTTER
1t is not easy with ordinary cows I
@ make yellow butter after frosts hav
h injured the grass. Some native COW
e make better colored butter than a
q others, resembling the Jersey in tn
y respect Corn 1T this season is plent
o Iul, and if soft nubbins are given
q COWS they will increase both yield an
II quality OF the butter. Some have a
It deA that yellow corn is best, but til
n color is not so natural. Possibly I'll
= yellow has a trife more Of the fat for
l. mater al than white corn, but the la
n ter is good enough.
z. JUNE GRASS IN DRoUGHTs.
q June grass has a considerable part {
3. lis roots near the surface. Hence it
L. one of the first grasses to start in th
n Spring. as its range Is warmed befoi
8 that of the deeper rooted clovers an
'f grasses. 1t is apt to dry up quickly
le hot dry weather. but it has enoug
: roots down to the moist earth to kee
alive, and a slight rain starts tho ne
:, vigorous growth. II is one of th
!. 80, 49, : 'sistent grasses to I've that e'
e w., pUd ,St,G persistency in cultivate
: 49,, - ~ 80. 49,. it very bad wee,
J. though all right in
TX BUTTER
FEEDING FOR MI ~ Incu,.ro, ,
A great supply of milk zoe ~. -,
WAYS mean n large hutter vield IL tb